Review
Polymer Science
Yong Ye, Li Guo, Tingjun Zhong
Summary: Polymer-stabilized liquid crystals (PSLCs) are versatile materials with polymer networks providing anchoring energy for liquid crystals. This review details various improvements in PSLCs, including polymer-stabilized nematic, cholesteric, blue phase, smectic, ferroelectric, and antiferroelectric liquid crystals. PSLCs offer multiple functionalities, such as reorientation in smart windows and manual tuning of reflection bandwidth in broadband reflectors. PSBPLCs open up new possibilities for displays, modulators, sensors, lasers, lenses, and photonics applications. Polymer networks in PSFLCs or PSAFLCs enhance grayscale memories for flexible displays and energy-saving smart cards. The remaining challenges and research opportunities in PSLCs are also discussed.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jack Paget, Una Alberti, Marco G. Mazza, Andrew J. Archer, Tyler N. Shendruk
Summary: In this study, a phenomenological Landau theory based on a complex-tensor order parameter is developed to describe the features of lamellar liquid crystals. This theory considers the local degree of lamellar ordering, layer displacement, and orientation of the layers, and resolves some issues in previous models.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS A-MATHEMATICAL AND THEORETICAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chenjing Yang, Li Chen, Rui Zhang, Dong Chen, Laura R. Arriaga, David A. Weitz
Summary: The interactions between liquid crystals and amphiphilic molecules at the interface are crucial for the development of molecular sensors. This paper demonstrates that the development of smectic liquid crystal ordering induces local high-density distributions of amphiphilic phospholipids at the liquid crystal/water interface. The transition of phospholipids from liquid-expanded to liquid-condensed phases in response to the smectic ordering leads to increased surface tension at the interface.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Izabela Sliwa, Pavel Maslennikov, Alex Zakharov
Summary: This paper discusses the shear-driving flows in a freely suspended symmetric smectic C film and the twisting rotation of the (c) over cap -director around the normal to smectic layers caused by it. Additionally, it shows that the twisting dynamics of the c-director field strongly depends on the curvature of the inner rotating frame.
Article
Crystallography
Peter John Tipping, Helen Frances Gleeson
Summary: This paper investigates the electrocaloric potential of ferroelectric liquid crystals as heat-exchanging materials in electrocaloric devices. The field-induced temperature changes of three selected ferroelectric liquid crystal systems are measured using the Maxwell method. The results show that the maximum induced temperature change is 0.37 K, which is currently the highest record in the FLC field, making these materials interesting candidates for electrocaloric applications.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Florian Malotke, Tobias Thiele, Jochen S. Gutmann, Michael Giese
Summary: A modular tool box for photoresponsive cholesteric liquid crystals based on hydrogen-bonded assemblies is developed, allowing tunable structural coloration. The blue shift in cholesteric liquid-crystalline thin films is attributed to the photoinduced destruction of smectic clusters, resulting in a contraction of the helical structure. Furthermore, the use of a stereolithography 3D printer enables the direct transfer of digital information into a multicolor photonic pattern.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Arif Nesrullajev
Summary: This study investigates the thermo-optical properties of monomorphic smectogens, focusing on homogeneous binary mixtures of 4-n-alkyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl mesogens. It examines optical refracting and birefringent properties, as well as the behavior of the order parameter at phase transitions. Temperature dependences of refracting indices and birefringence, as well as order parameter variations during phase transitions, are analyzed.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sai-Bo Wu, Hui-Min Cao, Jin-Bing Wu, Ling-Ling Ma, Yan-Qing Lu, Wei Hu
Summary: Chirality and hierarchy are two representative features of complex configurations in liquid crystals. This study explores the use of chiral additives and surface electroclinic effect to regulate the chirality strength and achieve dynamic evolution of chiral hierarchical structures. The findings have potential applications in active optics, sensing, and micro-manufacturing.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bruno Zappone, Roberto Bartolino
Summary: By introducing topological defects in a cholesteric liquid crystal, this study enhanced the mechanical strength of a fluid film, resulting in unique viscoelastic and optomechanical properties. The creation of concentric dislocation loops between two curved surfaces with sphere-sphere contact geometry during surface retraction produced distinct effects.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongye Guo, Mohand O. Saed, Eugene M. Terentjev
Summary: A composite liquid crystalline elastomer is created by combining mesogenic polymers in the network, resulting in micro-phase separated regions of nematic and smectic ordering. Calorimetry and X-ray scattering are used to detect thermal phase transitions and investigate the nematic/smectic structure. The mechanical properties, including ductility and modulus, are optimized by varying the composition of the material.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jannick Guschlbauer, Leszek Niedzicki, Litwin Jacob, Edyta Rzeszotarska, Damian Pociecha, Piotr Kaszynski
Summary: A new approach to anisotropic liquid electrolytes is explored using a non-ionic liquid crystalline host doped with a lithium salt. The concentration of the ionic additives does not significantly affect the stability of the mesophase, but expands the ion conducting channels. The conductivity and activation energy of the electrolyte vary with temperature and lithium ion concentration.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Christopher Schilling, Alina Bauer, Julius A. Knoeller, Finn Schulz, Anna Zens, Sabine Laschat
Summary: The study investigated the influence of rigid mesogenic units and N-substituents on mesomorphic properties. Results showed that N-ethyl and bend-shaped aryl units mostly lowered the clearing transition temperatures, decreasing the tendency for thermal decomposition and affected the preference of SmA phases.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Masaki Ishizu, Kyohei Hisano, Miho Aizawa, Christopher J. Barrett, Atsushi Shishido
Summary: We developed an in situ molecular alignment method using photopolymerization to achieve precise alignment of molecules and mesoscopic structures. This technique has the potential to become a powerful alignment platform for anisotropic materials at various scales.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Paul A. Monderkamp, Rene Wittmann, Michael te Vrugt, Axel Voigt, Raphael Wittkowski, Hartmut Loewen
Summary: This paper presents the complex ordering phenomena of liquid crystals under external constraints, and analyzes the fine structure of grain boundaries using three-dimensional tetratic order parameters.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shivender Yadav, Ashwathanarayana Gowda, D. S. Shankar Rao, S. Krishna Prasad, N. Jayaraman
Summary: Amphiphilic sugar-functionalised diacetylene lipids can self-organise in the solid state to form sugar-coated polydiacetylenes. The presence of hydrophilic sugar moieties and long aliphatic chains promote amphiphilicity-driven mesomorphism, and the mesomorphic properties vary depending on the sugar segment.
News Item
Chemistry, Physical
Eran Sharon, Hillel Aharoni
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Hillel Aharoni, John M. Kolinski, Michael Moshe, Idan Meirzada, Eran Sharon
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2016)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hillel Aharoni, Desislava V. Todorova, Octavio Albarran, Lucas Goehring, Randall D. Kamien, Eleni Katifori
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2017)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
John M. Kolinski, Hillel Aharoni, Jay Fineberg, Eran Sharon
PHYSICAL REVIEW FLUIDS
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hillel Aharoni, Yu Xia, Xinyue Zhang, Randall D. Kamien, Shu Yang
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2018)
Article
Physics, Mathematical
Thomas Machon, Hillel Aharoni, Yichen Hu, Randall D. Kamien
COMMUNICATIONS IN MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS
(2019)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Itay Griniasty, Hillel Aharoni, Efi Efrati
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Shahaf Armon, Matthew S. Bull, Avraham Moriel, Hillel Aharoni, Manu Prakash
Summary: By studying a model of epithelial sheets, researchers found that cells' contraction response under tension can lead to propagating contraction pulses, enhancing rip-resistance of the tissue. This mechanism, relevant to various tissues under challenging mechanical conditions, may inspire the engineering of synthetic materials.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Amine Missaoui, Adam L. Susser, Hillel Aharoni, Charles Rosenblatt
Summary: In this study, a wedge cell made of homeotropically treated glass plates was filled with a chirally doped nematic liquid crystal. A bend-like distortion occurred above a Freedericksz threshold field H-th when a sufficiently large magnetic field was applied in the cell plane. The measurements of H-th vs sample thickness were compared with a theoretical model and a further theoretical comparison was made between H-th and the electric-field-induced transition in a geometry with a 2p azimuthal degeneracy. The results may have technological implications in in-plane switching devices, for example.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Castro, Hillel Aharoni
Summary: We investigate planar liquid crystal elastomers, which are two-dimensional objects made of anisotropic responsive materials that maintain a flat shape while changing their planar shape when stimulated. By leveraging the implicit linearity exhibited by this particular type of deformation, we derive a closed-form analytical solution. Our solution enables the determination of the nematic director field on any arbitrary domain starting from two initial director curves. We explore various gauge choices and the incorporation of disclinations in the nematic order. Furthermore, we present several potential applications and design principles based on this theoretical framework.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alvin Modin, Biswarup Ash, Kelsey Ishimoto, Robert L. Leheny, Francesca Serra, Hillel Aharoni
Summary: This study introduces a theoretical framework to quantitatively predict the connectivity and shape of disclination lines in liquid crystals. Through experimental testing and computer simulations, it is found that certain parameters can tune the curvature of disclination lines. This research provides a powerful method to understand and control defect lines in liquid crystals.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Amine Missaoui, Adam L. Susser, Hillel Aharoni, Charles Rosenblatt
Summary: We investigated the behavior of a thin liquid crystal film on a polymer vinyl alcohol-coated substrate and found that the thickness of the oily streak texture depends on the molecule nature, temperature, and surface tension. A phenomenological model was established to estimate the energy cost of the oily streak layer as its thickness deviates from z(0).
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Asaf Haddad, Hillel Aharoni, Eran Sharon, Alexander G. Shtukenberg, Bart Kahr, Efi Efrati
Meeting Abstract
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu Xia, Hillel Aharoni, Xinyue Zhang, Randall Kamien, Shu Yang
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2017)